The Washington source said Mr Bush and Mr Cheney did not trust any potential successors in the White House, Republican or Democratic, to deal with Iran decisively. They are also reluctant for Israel to carry out any strikes because the US would get the blame in the region anyway.

"The red line is not in Iran. The red line is in Israel. If Israel is adamant it will attack, the US will have to take decisive action," Mr Cronin said. "The choices are: tell Israel no, let Israel do the job, or do the job yourself."

Almost half of the US's 277 warships are stationed close to Iran, including two aircraft carrier groups. The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise left Virginia last week for the Gulf. A Pentagon spokesman said it was to replace the USS Nimitz and there would be no overlap that would mean three carriers in Gulf at the same time..............

Have you noticed that there's not been much reported on what Condi is doing these days? I often wonder just what it is people like her and that death's head Chertoff actually do to earn their high salaries and government perks. Yes, yes, I know they make a hell of a lot of mischief, and in the Bush admn, that's a job requirement. They're definitely too highly paid to be our servants!

Too bad it's so damned difficult to fire them.

On a more serious note, check this report out about the Air Force quietly building up its presence in Iraq: